Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is coming off an amazing season in Atlanta

In these unsettled times of devastating Bucs losses, constant change and growing pains, Joe thought it would be wise to bring back THE OPTIMIST.

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. … Of course, THE OPTIMIST’s opinions are his alone and are not influenced by Joe. [read more]

Ron “Jaws” Jaworski loves him some America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.

The problem is Jaws has studied Jameis and the Buccaneers’ offensive line. [read more]

Stats show Lovie’s flippant public attitude over CB Johnthan Banks is terribly unwarranted.

It just drives Joe nuts how, for whatever reason publicly, Lovie Smith seems to have it in for cornerback Johnthan Banks, the third-year man out of Mississippi State.

Whenever Lovie is asked about Banks, it is seems like it offends him and he immediately invokes Mike Jenkins’ name. [read more]

Former Pro Bowl center Shaun O’Hara shined a spotlight on Evan Smith versus Dick LeBeau.

Damn, Joe is salivating at the thought of a real Bucs game tomorrow, especially one with America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, under center.

Haleleujah! [read more]

Win lunch with Joe!

You’ve seen enough. You’ve ached for the return of real Bucs football for 8 1/2 months. (One might suggest it’s been nearly three years.)

Now it’s time to predict this 2015 season. [read more]

Mickey is flummoxed why he cannot watch the Bucs Sunday.

Of course, Joe later will post the weekly in-season TV map for Bucs fans to learn where in the country they can lay prone on their Barcalounger and watch the Titans-Bucs game without the need for DirecTV.

One area where Bucs fans must cough up money for NFL Sunday Ticket or get off that Barcalounger and head to the local watering hole is Orlando, which for decades was deemed by the Bucs as its secondary market. [read more]

Doug Martin has made it clear that he hates the perfectly good nickname “Muscle Hamster.” Don’t dare call Martin that.

But what do his teammates call him? [read more]

Intense praise for the Bucs’ 21-year-old middle linebacker

Only one college man received the high blessing by the defensive gurus, wizards and personnel chiefs at One Buc Palace over the past two years.

And Lovie Smith showered him with a great compliment yesterday. [read more]

If Joe is doing a podcast with smooth-talking Ronnie Lane of the Buccaneers Radio Network, then you know it is football season.

In this first weekly edition of 2015, Joe talks the offensive line, the embarrassing recent history of non-edge rushers and honeys on Instagram. [read more]

Help him!

There is no question that the front line for the Bucs is a major question mark.

Can Logan Mankins right himself? Can Evan Smith save his career? Does Gosder Cherilus have anything left in his tank and old knees? Can Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet not play like rookies? [read more]

When the Bucs invested a third-round pick on Charles Sims, despite not needing a running back, Tampa Bay officials and national media were lauding the golden soft hands of Sims. [read more]

It was time for Joe’s weekly visit to the popular Ron & Ian show and a spirited rapid-fire interview on WDAE-AM 620. [read more]

“It’s not about that.”

No, this game has nothing to do with two rookie quarterbacks who won the last two Heisman trophies facing each other in their first NFL game.

Yet it’s a catchy hook. Much sexier than two s(p)it 2-14 teams squaring off. [read more]

Is Bucs DC Leslie Frazier building a top rush defense?

Joe understands Tampa Bay fans have done their best to rinse away the memories of the 2014 Bucs with untold number of beers if not fifths of Sambuca.

Yet, through the long nights and even longer head-pounding mornings, the tactic never works. [read more]

Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, made a gesture of agony touching near his abdomen this week. [read more]

Joe has written several times about Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht working alongside Bill Belicheat in New England.

Licht often recites a lesson he learned from Belicheat: move on from your mistakes right away. Learn and turn the page. [read more]

Hammy trouble still plaguing Mike Evans

It’s looking like wide receiver Louis Murphy will not be called on again to foil legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau (again). [read more]

Chucky has words for Dirk Koetter

Chucky, the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl head coach, gushed and gushed over Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota during an interview on WDAE-AM 620 this morning.

Chucky sees him as a do-it-all quarterback. [read more]

Five big names like the Bucs on Sunday

Five astute NFL analysts, including three former players, see a victory coming for Tampa Bay on Sunday. [read more]

Joe was really sickened by a piece of commentary from Gerald McCoy yesterday.

A rookie back in 2010, McCoy started 13 games for a 10-6 team, his only winning team in five seasons, and McCoy didn’t have fun so it wasn’t a happy memory for him.

[read more]